CURRENT POSITION

Co-Director, Peace Academy, Wexford, Inc., 2024 - Present

• As Co-Director of the Peace Academy, Ms. Villa-McDowell will collaborate with staff and partners to build the Peace Academy, to reduce hate incidents through a variety of strategies. 

• She also continues her work as a consultant to Los Angeles vs Hate Project of the Los Angeles  County Commission on Human Relation to support creation and development of over 30 new projects, monitoring project progress and expenditures. 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Originator and Coordinator, LAvsHate, Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, 2018-2024

• Ms. McDowell’s work on the LAvs Hate program  at LACCHR has been acknowledge by states and nationally.  It has been replicated in four states and in a national hate reporting line.  She is recognized as a expert in developing anti-hate crimes and incidents  and prevention strategies for regional and state programs.   A highly qualified grant writer and resource development staff person, Ms. Villa-McDowell is responsible for bringing over $14 million in direct funds to recent projects she has been involved with. 

Director, Social Emotional Wellness Programs, Wexford, Inc., 2016-18

• Provide program and resource development to high-need L.A. County school districts and community-based agencies state-wide to scale up Multi-Tiered System of Support.

ABC Unified School District, Cerritos, CA, 2006-2016

• SELPA/Alternative Dispute Resolution Facilitator & Safe Schools Coordinator,

Norwalk La Mirada/ABC Unified School Districts, Cerritos, CA 90703

• SELPA Facilitator

Assistant Executive Director, Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, Los Angeles, CA, 2001-2006

Legal Positions 1991 – 2000

• National Immigration Law Center;  Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office;  Legal Aid Foundation of Long Beach;  R.M.S. Queen Mary;  U.S. Central District Courthouse;  Public Counsel, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.

 

EDUCATION

• Juris Doctor, 1991, University of Southern California Law School, Los Angeles, California

• Co-founder and editor, USC Review of Law & Women’s Studies, 1990

• Co-Convener, U.S.C. Law School’s Symposium Legal Concepts of Motherhood, 1991

• Bachelor of Arts, 1975, cum laude California State University, Long Beach, California

 

PUBLICATIONS & TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS

• L.A. County Bar Association 30-Hour Basic Mediation Trainingfulfills training requirements of theCalifornia Dispute Resolution Programs Act, 2005.

• Trainer, Facilitated IEPs & Resource Parent Training, 2006.

• Editorial board member, Los Angeles County Hate Crime Report, Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, 2002 – 2006.

• Crisis Response Plan For Building Tolerance After 9/11, Editor, Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission Strategic Plan, October 2001.

• Southern California Preparatory Conference to the U.N. World Conference Against Racism, Symposium and End Report.  Primary convener for symposium and served on editorial board for End Report, January 2002.

• Immigrant Rights to Government Benefits.Chapter Editor, National Immigration Law Center, 2001.

• Privacy Concerns: Inconsistent Treatment in Two Recent Supreme Court Cases, Review of Law & Women’s Studies, Fall 1992